NICOLE ZAPPONE – The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
WILLIMANTIC — Firefighters from the Willimantic Fire Department responded to a home on Gifford Avenue for smoke in the building with possibly two people unconscious.
The call came at 11:53 a.m. Sunday at the home at 5 Gifford Avenue.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, no smoke was found, but during the investigation, it was quickly determined to be a carbon monoxide incident.
“There were three individuals complaining of symptoms, two of which reported passing out briefly,” Willimantic Fire Chief Marc Scrivener said. “All occupants (six total) were out of the house and accounted for.”
According to Scrivener, the family was using a propane-fired commercial-style oven to bake bread in the kitchen, which was connected to a 20-lb propane cylinder.
“The oven was not vented,” Scrivener said. “Firefighters were told it was usually used outside, but because of the weather, it was brought inside to bake.”
Three ambulances were requested to evaluate and transport, and three individuals were transported to Windham Hospital.
One ambulance from Willimantic and two Mansfield ambulances were used for transport, and the fire marshal’s office was requested to go to the scene.
Scrivener said that upon entry, the crew immediately had readings of 50 PPM of carbon monoxide on the meters and proceeded to confirm the oven and propane cylinder were off.
Before leaving the building to set up ventilation, firefighters had a reading of 250 PPM and climbing.
Firefighters then opened the windows and set up ventilation, bringing the readings down to 0 PPM.
“Firefighters found no working CO detectors in the house,” Scrivener said. “The FMO educated the family and followed up at the ER. Ultimately, two out of the three transported were being transferred by Lifestar to a hyperbaric chamber out of state (NYC) to be treated for CO poisoning.”
Scrivener said a third patient is being treated at Windham Hospital.
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